There was something in my water.
I heard the splash it made while I was swimming around hunting, and now I almost sniff out what didn't belong. I followed my sensitive nose to the intrusive object. Could it be…? A cucumber! The Harvest Sprites must be visiting again, after so long. If the cucumbers were ripe, it had to be halfway through spring already. These offerings are all that mark the passage of time in my watery domain. I suppose it's only right to go thank whichever sprite was brave enough to venture all the way across town with my gift. I donned a formidable expression and rose through the water.
Harvest Sprites lined my shore, timid and pitiful. My spineless followers were all holding cucumbers. The purple sprite, Bold, started speaking in a ceremonious manner. His voice was loud and emphatic, doubtless to hide the tremble beneath it.
"Oh, great and mighty kappa. We have come to ask you a favor."
Well, that explains it. "What do you dare ask the vicious kappa for? You're lucky I don't pull you down into this water for your insolence!"
Chef quipped from the back "If you did, sir, no one would bring you cucumbers anymore.." "What is the meaning of this!?" I bellowed.
Bold shot him a look, and continued, "Mineral Town is growing old, and no one is being born to replace those that are dying. The only children in the village are May and Stu, and they are likely to move out. We do not attract new faces anymore. We are afraid that our little town will be empty within three generations."
So, that was the issue.
"There are, great Kappa , five women in the village that could bear children, and five men that could protect and care for them. Popuri, Elli, Ann, Karen, and Mary are the future of our village!"
"So," I answered, "you wish me to play a simple match maker?"
"Sir, they can't see us, and the Harvest Goddess is very busy. Carter, our priest, refused to help us!"
Oh, the high and mighty Harvest Goddess too busy to help her worshipers? How fitting. Romance has never been my strong suit, but there were other ways I could solve this problem. After all, all the true goal of the Harvest Sprites was babies.
"Alright."
"You'll help us?"
"Throw the damn cucumbers into the water, and I will ensure that the town prospers. Now!"
The sprites cheered and started throwing their bounty into the water. I gathered the cucumbers up and swam them to my home under the island in the center of the lake. Though I am unpracticed as of late, my next job would be simple. I mixed the offerings into an elixir the Witch Princess taught me many years ago. It would make me human until I entered my own waters again. I swam to the bank and swallowed it up in one gulp. My limbs shrank to a human size, my slimy bald scalp dried and sprouted soft, green hair. I was in agony as my body began to take a human shape. Then, after less than a minute, I had transformed. Looking down at my new form, I found myself as an undistinguished human male. Clean green shirt, black pants and shoes, and a trim form from my years of swimming. I set off towards the village.